Equine Acupuncture Sophie White BvetMed MRCVS

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1 Equine Acupuncture Sophie White BvetMed MRCVS

2 A little about me... Graduated from Royal Veterinary College in 2011 Work in a busy small animal practice Always ridden and handled horses including stud mares and foals as well as ex racers (so don't worry if your horse is a bit of a monkey) Strong interest in chronic pain. Completed my foundation acupuncture course in 2012 with the Western Veterinary Acupuncture Group. Same training as human doctors wanting to perform acupuncture both in the NHS and privately.

3 Why acupuncture? Chronic pain is often undiagnosed and can be very debilitating, not only to health but also to an animal's happiness. Traditional medical management sometimes isn't enough, or there are unacceptable side effects. Scientific evidence that acupuncture therapy releases pain relieving and anti inflammatory chemicals with in the body. Suitable for almost every animal, and for a huge variety of conditions.

4 What is acupuncture? In the UK acupuncture of animals can only legally be performed by a vet The insertion of needles into points of the body to reduce pain and normalise function. 'segmental' acupuncture = needling points of the body that share the same neurological innervation as the target eg; needling the lower back can help reduce uterine fluid because the nerves going to the uterus start in the lower back. 'Trigger point' = Commonly known as knots in the muscle, which when pressed or needled cause the same pain as the condition itself (referred pain) Most people use a combination of 'classical points' (as seen on the diagram at the beginning), segmental points, trigger points and other tender areas.

5 Common misconceptions Acupuncture is for 'hippies' and is the same as homeopathy, crystals and Reiki. The Western style acupuncture I practice although similar to the Chinese style is not the same. It is based on medical knowledge of the nervous system and is backed up by scientific evidence. The needles must stay in for at least half an hour or it won't work. I usually aim to keep mine in for 10 minutes, but not all animals will tolerate that, and that's ok. Just the insertion of the needle will have some effect. It is just a placebo effect... evidence shows this isn't so. Also in people the 'placebo effect' itself has been shown to reduce pain, and well isn't that what we are aiming for? Your animals have no idea me poking them with needles is meant to be helping... yet it often does.

6 Examples of conditions suitable for acupuncture... Muscle injuries such as strains and sprains Arthritis and kissing spines Proud flesh and non-healing wounds Retained uterine fluid, hindering conception Pain relating to poor fitting tack (once tack corrected!) Aches and pains from repetitive work, such as stiff neck from too much time held in an outline Don't just think of lameness, think is your horse reluctant to be tacked up, shying off the leg, hard to bend or get into an outline, especially if this is out of character. They may be an identifiable source of pain to account for this.

7 Safety... Acupuncture is very safe. There are no reported 'serious incidents' in veterinary acupuncture. Almost all serious injuries and deaths in people are more a result of stupidity than the needling itself. For example an unqualified lady trying to treat her own chest pain with knitting needles! There may occasionally be a little bleeding, and very rarely fainting. You must not needle through tumours (inc sarcoids) or infected skin (ie mud fever) Horses with blood clotting disorders or those with severe immunosuppression (eg undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from leukaemia) are not suitable for needling.

8 Working along side the Milbourn vets Acupuncture is an 'as well as' not an 'instead of'. I would ask that before your first session you discuss the case with your usual vet, and I will in turn consult with them and make sure they are happy that acupuncture is suitable for your horse. I would ask that you continue to use the medication prescribed and work/rest recommended by the Milbourn vets. If your horse no longer needs additional pain relief I can discuss this with them, and yourselves. Remember acupuncture is not going to cure a condition. It can help reduce pain while the body heals, and it can help manage pain long term, but it isn't going to get rid of arthritic joints or tendon damage.

9 What to expect... During a session the first thing is to chat about what you feel the problem is. This is then followed by a thorough examination of the horse for areas of pain and discomfort. I would ask that horses are held during sessions, either on the yard or in an empty stable. NO BEDDING please. Lost needles can end up stuck in feet and hooves! Most sessions last about minutes. I recommend 4 sessions, each a week apart, to kick start the effect (many people see a response after the first) Acute injuries may have healed by this point. After this many chronic conditions can be controlled with monthly sessions, but this depends on the individual.

10 What to expect continued... Many animals experience a mild sedation. So please don't ride your horse straight away and they may prefer to spend a few hours relaxing before being turned out again. Occasionally there may be exaggerated pain the next day (rare). This will rapidly resolve. It is often a sign the animal is a good responder, but just needs very gentle needling in future. The first session may only cause an improvement for a few days. The aim is that with each treatment the improvement you see will increase, and last longer. Unfortunately acupuncture isn't a miracle cure. Not all horses will respond to treatment, and some may not even allow the treatment to take place. Most my cats & dogs actually enjoy coming to see me! So although it can be a little uncomfortable at times, it certainly isn't a bad experience for them.

11 Questions?

12 Contact Details Sophie White BvetMed MRCVS ; phone; a session Group visit discounts available